Bias device for biasing a gripping device with a shuttle on a central body

ABSTRACT

A device including: (a) a first working arm; (b) a body; (c) a shuttle located on the body, and (d) a bias device; wherein the bias device biases the first working arm relative to the body when the shuttle is in a first position, and wherein the bias device is free of biasing the first working arm relative to the body when the shuttle is in a second position.

FIELD

The present teachings generally relate to a bias device that selectivelybiases the arms of a gripping device relative to a body portion andpreferably a surgical device that is a combination device, which isconfigured as forceps that include one or more shuttles on each arm thatselectively bias each arm relative to a body portion.

BACKGROUND

Typically, gripping devices such as forceps include a hinge thatconnects the arms together so that the arms are movable relative to eachother. The hinge may allow the gripping devices to move so that thegripping devices are movable to an open position where the arms of theforceps are moved apart and upon an application of a closing force thearms of the gripping devices are moved into a closed position where anitem of interest can be gripped within the gripping device. Othergripping devices such as pliers, nail cutters, cuticle nippers, or thelike have added features that extend between the arms and create adirect force on both of the arms so that the arms are biased open. Thesedevices always bias the arms apart and cannot be disconnected. Someattempts have been made to create a device that is disengageable bypivoting the device from an “on” position to an “off” position or byadding a device that is removable. However, these devices may becomelost or damaged over time such that the application of force is changedor is not possible. Further, these devices impart a force directly onboth of the arms so that the arms are directly moved apart by thefeature.

Examples of some gripping devices such as pliers and cuticle nippersthat include a feature that generates a force may be found in U.S. Pat.Nos. D386,054; 5,619,892; and 8,555,754 all of which are incorporated byreference herein for all purposes. It would be attractive to have agripping device including a bias device that is selectively engageable.It would be attractive to have a gripping device with bias device thatis engageable and disengageable without removing the bias device formthe gripping device or moving the bias device on or along the grippingdevice. What is needed is a bias device that can be activated anddeactivated with one hand. What is needed is a bias device that mayapply a force to one arm individually or two or more arms. It would beattractive to have one or more bias devices where a force generated bythe one or more bias devices is variable.

SUMMARY

The present teachings meet one or more of the present needs byproviding: a device comprising: (a) a first working arm; (b) a shuttle,and (c) a bias device; wherein the bias device biases the first workingarm when the shuttle is in a first position, and wherein the bias deviceis free of biasing the first working arm when the shuttle is in a secondposition.

The present teachings provide: a device comprising: (a) a first workingarm; (b) a second working arm; (c) a shuttle, and (d) a bias device;wherein the bias device biases the first working arm away from thesecond arm with a first force when the shuttle is in a first position,and wherein the bias device biases the first working arm away from thesecond arm with a second force when the shuttle is in a second position.

The present teachings provide: a device comprising: (a) a first workingarm; (b) a body; (c) a shuttle located on the body, and (d) a biasdevice; wherein the bias device biases the first working arm relative tothe body when the shuttle is in a first position, and wherein the biasdevice is free of biasing the first working arm relative to the bodywhen the shuttle is in a second position.

The present teachings provide: a device comprising: (a) a first workingarm; (b) second working arm; (c) a central body; (d) a shuttle, and (e)a first bias device (f) a second biasing device; wherein the first biasdevice biases the first working arm from the central body with a firstforce when the shuttle is in a first position, wherein the second biasdevice biases the second working arm from the central body and whereinthe first bias device biases the first working arm away from the centralbody with a second force when the shuttle is in a second position.

The present teachings provide: a device comprising: (a) a first workingarm; (b) a second working arm; (c) a shuttle; and (d) a bias devicelocated on the first working arm; wherein the bias device biases thefirst working arm away from the second arm with a first bias force whenthe shuttle is in a first position, and wherein the bias device biasesthe first working arm away from the second arm with a second bias forceor no force when the shuttle is in a second position, and the first biasforce is greater than the second bias force.

The present teachings provide: a device comprising: (a) a first workingarm; (b) a second working arm; (c) a shuttle; and (d) a bias devicelocated on the shuttle; wherein the bias device biases the first workingarm away from the second working arm with a first bias force when theshuttle is in a first position; and wherein the bias device biases thefirst working arm away from the second working arm with a second biasforce when the shuttle is in a second position, and the first bias forceis greater than the second bias force.

The present teachings provide: a device comprising: (a) a first workingarm; (b) a second working arm; (c) a shuttle; (d) a bias device locatedon the first working arm; and (e) a deactivation feature located withinthe second working arm; wherein the shuttle covers the deactivationfeatures when the shuttle is in a first position so that the bias devicebiases the first working arm away from the second working arm with afirst bias force; and wherein the deactivation feature is exposed whenthe shuttle is in a second position so that the bias device extends intothe deactivation feature so that the bias device biases the firstworking arm away from the second working arm with a second bias force orthe bias device is free of creating a bias force.

The present teachings provide: a device comprising: (a) a first workingarm; (b) a second working arm; (c) a shuttle; (d) a central body; and(e) a bias device located on the shuttle; wherein the bias device biasesthe first working arm away from the central body with a first bias forcewhen the shuttle is in a first position; wherein the first bias devicebiases the first working arm away from the central body with a secondbias force or no bias force when the shuttle is in a second position.

The present teachings provide: a device comprising: (a) a first workingarm; (b) a second working arm; (c) a shuttle; (d) a central body; and(e) a bias device located on the first working arm; wherein the biasdevice biases the first working arm away from the central body with afirst bias force when the shuttle is in a first position; wherein thefirst bias device biases the first working arm away from the centralbody with a second bias force or no bias force when the shuttle is in asecond position.

The present teachings provide: a device comprising: (a) a first workingarm; (b) a second working arm; (c) one or more shuttles; (d) a centralbody; (e) a first bias device located on the first working arm; (f) asecond bias device located on the second working arm; and (g) one ormore deactivation features located within the central body; wherein theone or more shuttles cover the one or more deactivation features withinthe central body when the one or more shuttles are in a first positionso that the first working arm, the second working arm, or both arebiased away from the central body with a first bias force; and whereinthe one or more deactivation features within the central body areexposed when the one or more shuttles are in a second position so thatthe first working arm, the second working arm, or both are biased awayfrom the central body with a second bias force or the first working arm,the second working arm, or both are not biased by the bias device.

The present teachings provide: a device comprising: (a) a first workingarm; (b) a second working arm; (c) two or more shuttles; (d) a centralbody; (e) a first bias device located on the first working arm; and (f)a second bias device located on the second working arm; and wherein thetwo or more shuttles are aligned with the first bias device, the secondbias device or both when the two or more shuttles are in a firstposition so that the first working arm, the second working arm, or bothare biased away from the central body with a first bias force; andwherein two or more shuttles are misaligned with the first bias device,the second bias device, or both so that the first bias device bias thefirst working arm, the second bias device biases the second working arm,or both away from the central body with a second bias force or no biasforce when one or all of the two or more shuttles are located in asecond position.

The present teachings provide: a device comprising: (a) a first workingarm; (b) a second working arm; (c) two or more shuttles; (d) a centralbody; (e) a first bias device located on the first working arm; (f) asecond bias device located on the second working arm; (g) a firstdeactivation feature located on the central body that is aligned withthe first bias device; (h) a second deactivation feature located on thecentral body that is aligned with the second bias device; and whereinone of the two or more shuttles cover the first deactivation featurewithin the central body when a first of the two or more shuttles are ina first position so that the first working arm is biased away from thecentral body with a first arm first bias force; wherein a second of thetwo or more shuttles cover the second deactivation feature within thecentral body when a second of the two or more shuttles are in a firstposition so that the second working arm is biased away from the centralbody with a second arm first bias force; wherein the first deactivationfeature within the central body is exposed when the first of the two ormore shuttles are in a second position so that the first working arm isbiased away from the central body with a first arm second bias force orthe first working arm is not biased by the first bias device; andwherein the second deactivation feature within the central body isexposed when the second of the two or more shuttles are in a secondposition so that the second working arm is biased away from the centralbody with a second arm second bias force or the second working arm isnot biased by the second bias device.

The present teachings provide: a device comprising: (a) a first workingarm; (b) a second working arm; (c) a central body; (d) a first shuttlelocated on the first working arm; (e) a second shuttle located on thesecond work arm; (f) a first bias device located on the first shuttle;and (g) a second bias device located on the second shuttle; wherein thefirst bias device biases the first working arm away from the centralbody with a first bias force when the first shuttle is in a firstposition; wherein the second bias device biases the second working armaway from the central body with a first bias force when the secondshuttle is in a first position; wherein the first bias device bias thefirst working arm away from the central body with a second bias force orno bias force when the first shuttle is located in a second position;and wherein the second bias device bias the second working arm away fromthe central body with a second bias force or no bias force when thesecond shuttle is located in a second position.

The present teachings provide: a device comprising: (a) a first workingarm; (b) a second working arm; (c) a first shuttle located on the firstworking arm; (d) a second shuttle located on the second working arm; (e)a central body; (f) a first bias device located on a first side of thecentral body; (g) a second bias device located on a second side of thecentral body; (h) a first deactivation feature located on the firstworking arm that is aligned with the first bias device; (i) a seconddeactivation feature located on the second working arm that is alignedwith the second bias device; and wherein the first shuttle covers thefirst deactivation feature within the first working arm when the firstshuttle is in a first position so that the first working arm is biasedaway from the central body with a first arm first bias force; whereinthe second shuttle cover the second deactivation feature within thefirst working arm when the second shuttle is in a first position so thatthe second working arm is biased away from the central body with asecond arm first bias force; wherein the first deactivation featurewithin the first working arm is exposed when the first shuttle is in asecond position so that the first working arm is biased away from thecentral body with a first arm second bias force or the first working armis not biased by the first bias device; and wherein the seconddeactivation feature within the second working arm is exposed when thesecond shuttle is in a second position so that the second working arm isbiased away from the central body with a second arm second bias force orthe second working arm is not biased by the second bias device.

The present teachings provide: a device comprising: (a) a first workingarm; (b) a second working arm; (c) a first shuttle located on the firstworking arm; (d) a second shuttle located on the second working arm; (e)a central body; (f) a first bias device located on a first side of thecentral body; and (g) a second bias device located on a second side ofthe central body; and wherein the first bias device biases the firstworking arm away from the central body with a first bias force when thefirst shuttle is in a first position; wherein the second bias devicebiases the second working arm away from the central body with a firstbias force when the second shuttle is in a first position; wherein thefirst bias device bias the first working arm away from the central bodywith a second bias force or no bias force when the first shuttle islocated in a second position; and wherein the second bias device biasthe second working arm away from the central body with a second biasforce or no bias force when the second shuttle is located in a secondposition.

The teachings provide a gripping device including a bias device that isselectively engageable. The teachings provide a gripping device withbias device that is engageable and disengageable without removing thebias device form the gripping device or moving the bias device on oralong the gripping device. The teachings provide a bias device that canbe activated and deactivated with one hand. The teachings provide a biasdevice that may apply a force to one arm individually or two or morearms. The teachings provide one or more bias devices where a forcegenerated by the one or more bias devices is variable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electrosurgical device;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an electrosurgical device includingforceps;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a first working arm;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a second working arm;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an electrosurgical device with forcepsthat are bias closed;

FIG. 6 illustrates the forceps of FIG. 5 with the body removed;

FIG. 7 illustrates a plan view of forceps including a shuttle on eachworking arm and one shuttle on the body;

FIG. 8 illustrates a plan view of forceps including a shuttle on eachworking arm and one shuttle on the body with one of the shuttles on thearm in a second position;

FIG. 9A illustrates forceps with a shuttle on each working arm in afirst position and the blade being retracted along with a shuttle on thebody;

FIG. 9B illustrates a shuttle on each working arm in a first positionand the blade being flush with a tip of each working arm and the shuttleon the body being in a first position and aligned with the shuttles onthe working arms;

FIG. 9C illustrates forceps with a shuttle on each working arm in afirst position and the blade being retracted with a shuttle on the bodybeing in a first position and opposing the shuttles on the working arms;

FIG. 9D illustrates a shuttle on each working arm and two shuttles onthe body with one shuttle on the body being in a first position and oneshuttle on the body being in a second position;

FIG. 10 illustrates three shuttles on the body and deactivation featureson each working arm with the shuttles being in a second position so thatbias devices are aligned with the deactivation features;

FIG. 11 illustrates three shuttles on the body with on shuttle being ina first position and aligned with a first working arm so that a biasdevice on the shuttle biases the first working arm, and the secondshuttle being in a second position with a bias device being aligned witha deactivation feature so that the second working arm is not biased;

FIG. 12 illustrates three shuttles on the body with both shuttles beingin the first position and biasing the first working arm and the secondworking arm;

FIG. 13 illustrates three shuttles on the body with one shuttle being ina first position and biasing a working arm and one shuttle being in asecond position and not biasing a working arm;

FIG. 14A illustrates a first position of a shuttle, including biasdevices, that is movable along a body portion;

FIG. 14B illustrates a second position of a shuttle, including biasdevices, that is movable along a body portion;

FIG. 14C illustrates a third position of a shuttle, including biasdevices, that is movable along a body portion;

FIG. 14D illustrates a fourth position of a shuttle, including biasdevices, that is movable along a body portion;

FIG. 15 is a plan view of a working arm including deactivation featuresand contact zones;

FIG. 16A illustrates a first position of a shuttle, includingdeactivation features, that are movable along a body;

FIG. 16B illustrates a second position of a shuttle, includingdeactivation features, that are movable along a body;

FIG. 16C illustrates a third position of a shuttle, includingdeactivation features, that are movable along a body;

FIG. 16D illustrates a fourth position of a shuttle, includingdeactivation features, that are movable along a body;

FIG. 16E illustrates a fifth position of a shuttle, includingdeactivation features, that are movable along a body;

FIG. 17 illustrates two opposing shuttles moving along a body between afirst position and a second position;

FIG. 18 illustrates a shuttle moving along a body between a firstposition and a second position;

FIG. 19 illustrates a bias device extending only from a first workingarm with a shuttle moving along a body between a first position and asecond position to activate and deactivate the bias device;

FIG. 20 illustrates one bias device being located on a working arm andone bias device being located on a shuttle;

FIG. 21 illustrates the device of FIG. 25 moved to a second position sothat both bias devices are deactivated;

FIG. 22 illustrates two opposing shuttles on a body portion with oneshuttle being in a first position and one shuttle being located in asecond position;

FIG. 23 illustrates two shuttles including a recess located on a bodywith a biasing device being located on each working arm; and

FIG. 24 illustrates a shuttle and bias device on the body with theshuttle deactivating the bias device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The explanations and illustrations presented herein are intended toacquaint others skilled in the art with the teachings, its principles,and its practical application. Those skilled in the art may adapt andapply the teachings in its numerous forms, as may be best suited to therequirements of a particular use. Accordingly, the specific embodimentsof the present teachings as set forth are not intended as beingexhaustive or limiting of the teachings. The scope of the teachingsshould, therefore, be determined not with reference to the abovedescription, but should instead be determined with reference to theappended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which suchclaims are entitled. The disclosures of all articles and references,including patent applications and publications, are incorporated byreference for all purposes. Other combinations are also possible as willbe gleaned from the following claims, which are also hereby incorporatedby reference into this written description.

The present teachings relate to an instrument. The instrument mayfunction to grip one or more objects of interest. Preferably, theinstrument is a gripping device. More preferably, the instrument isforceps. Most preferably, the gripping device is surgical forceps. Theinstrument may be forceps, tweezers, scissors, retaining ring tool, or acombination thereof. The instrument may function to grip, hold, squeeze,or a combination thereof one or more objects. The instrument may includeone or more finger grips (i.e., configured like scissors) that may beused to move the instrument so that the instrument may be used to gripone or more objects. The instrument may be free of finger grips and beactuated by direct pressure being applied to opposing sides of theforceps so that the instrument closes and grips an object. Theinstrument may have working arms that cross and form an X shape. Theinstrument may be opened when a first working arm is moved towards asecond working arm. The instrument may be closed when a first workingarm is moved towards a second working arm. The first working arm and thesecond working arm may move laterally, within a plane, or both (e.g.,perpendicular to a longitudinal axis). Preferably, the first working armand the second working arm move towards and away from each other withoutrotating, moving out of a plane, or both. The instrument has a distalend and a proximal end. The instrument may have working arms that aregenerally straight. The instrument includes at least two working arms.

The working arms may function to grip, hold, squeeze, or a combinationthereof an object when the object is between the two or more opposingworking arms. The working arms include a proximal end and a distal end.The proximal end may be in contact with a body, a handle, or both. Thefirst working arm and the second working arm may converge together attheir respective proximal ends, at the handle, the body, or acombination thereof. The distal end may include one or more electrodes,one or more tips, or both for applying a therapy current, a grippingforce, or both. The working arms may include one or more grippingfeatures that may assist in gripping, holding, squeezing, or acombination thereof an object. The instrument may include two or moreworking arms. Preferably, the instrument includes at least two workingarms. The instrument may include three or more, four or more, five ormore, or even six or more working arms. More preferably, the instrumentonly includes two working arms. The working arms may all besubstantially identical. When only a first working arm and a secondworking arm are present the first working arm and the second working armmay be mirror images of each other. When only a first working arm and asecond working arm are present the instrument is configured as forceps.

The working arms, forceps, electrosurgical device, or a combinationthereof may be movable between at least a first position and a secondposition. For example, in the second position the working arms areimmobilized so that the working arms cannot be used a forceps. Theworking arms, blade, or both may have a first position and a secondposition; however, the shuttles may have a plurality of positions alongthe working arms, the blade, the body, or a combination thereof. Theworking arms may be longitudinally static and moveable relative to eachother (e.g., laterally within a plane). The working arms may belongitudinally moveable and may be moveable relative to each other(e.g., laterally movable) so that a gripping force may be created.Preferably, the working arms may be movable laterally relative to eachother (i.e., towards and away from each other within a single plane).The working arms may not be rotatable. The working arms may rotate abouta pivot or a pivot pin to grip or create a force. A pin may connect afirst working arm and a second working arm and the pin may be the pivotpoint. The working arms may be movable about a pivot point so that asone end of the working arms are moved closer together (e.g., a proximalend) an opposing end is moved further apart (e.g., a distal end). Theworking arms may each have a pivot point. The working arms may extendcantilever and may pivot about a cantilever connection with the body,the handle, the gripping portion, or a combination thereof. The workingarms may be retractable and/or extendable individually, simultaneously,or both. The working arms may be selectively retractable and/orextendable so that one or more tip regions are exposed. The working armsmay be rigid. The rigid working arms may rotate about a pivot or a pinto create a gripping force. The working arms may be connected to eachother, a body portion, or both by a pin that extends through a pivot andthe working arms may rotate about the pivot to create a gripping force.The working arms may include one or more cross overs.

The one or more cross overs may function to change the forceps from abias open device to a bias closed device. The cross overs may be wherethe working arms cross each other so that a distal end of the workingdevice is located on an opposing side of the forceps as a working armthat it was connected, a proximal end, or both. The cross over may haveone working arm passing over or under another working arm. The crossover may have a portion of one working arm passing through anotherworking arm. The cross over may form an X shape. The cross over may belocated on an opposite end of the arms as the one or more bosses, thepivot point, or both.

The working arms may include one or more bosses that a pin extendsthrough to connect the working arms to body so that a pivot point iscreated. Preferably, each working arm includes at least two bosses andthe bosses extend on both sides of a portion of the body and the pivotpin extends through the bosses and a portion of the body to connect thearms to the body. The pivot pin may movably connect the working arms toa body. The pivot point may create a hinge. A single pivot pin mayconnect more than one working arm. For example, the working arms may beconnected together by a single pivot pin. Each working arm may beconnected individually by a pivot pin. The connection may form a joint.The joint may be a pivot joint, a cantilever joint or both. Each workingarm may include a joint. Both working arms may be connected by a singlejoint. The bias device may be located on a distal side of the joint orthe proximal side of the joint. The first working arm, second workingarm, and body may all be part of the joint. The first working arm andbody and the second working arm and body may form a joint. The pivot pinmay be made of any material that permits the working arms to rotate. Forexample, the pivot pin may be plastic, metal, stainless steel, surgicalsteel, or a combination thereof. The working arms may be free of a pivotpin. For example, a first working arm may extend over (e.g., cross-overor cross-under) a second working arm so that the distal end is locatedon an opposite side of the forceps and the proximal end. Thecross-over/cross-under may create a device that opens upon anapplication of force. The working arms may be flexible and may flex toopen and close. For example, the working arms may be constrained (at oneend) and upon release of the constraint the working arms may flex open.The working arms may be movable between two or more positions.Preferably, the working arms are movable between at least a firstposition (e.g., open) and a second position (e.g., closed). The workingarms may be movable between a bipolar configuration (e.g., firstposition) and a monopolar configuration (e.g., second position). Theworking arms may be movable between an open position (i.e., firstposition) and a closed position (i.e., second position). The workingarms in the first position may be off, energized, one working arm may beenergized, or a combination thereof. The working arms in the secondposition may be off, one or both of the working arms may be electricallydisconnected, one or both of the working arms may be electricallyconnected, one working arm may be shorted by the other working arm, or acombination thereof. The working arms may be moved between one or morepositions by a user applying a force to a gripping portion.

The gripping portion may function to open the working arm, close theworking arms, allow a user to manipulate the forceps, or a combinationthereof. The gripping portions may move the working arms when a force isapplied to the working arms. The gripping portions may be located at theproximal end or the distal end of each of the working arm. The grippingportion may be located proximate to the handle, the body, or both. Thegripping portion of the working arms may extend over the handle, thebody, or both. The gripping portions may extend along the handle, thebody, or both. The gripping portions may be located opposite a tipregion of the working arms. The gripping portions may be located at aproximal end and the tip region may be located at a distal end.

The working arms may include a tip region. The tip region may include aportion that is configured to assist in facilitating gripping, holding,squeezing, or a combination thereof. The tip region may be located atthe distal most end (i.e., an end of the instrument furthest from theuser) of the working arms. The tip regions when moved towards each othermay grip an object of interest between the two working arms (e.g.,tissue). Additionally, the tip region may be configured in one or moreelectrosurgical configurations (e.g., a monopolar configuration, bipolarconfiguration, or a combination of both). The tip region may includeteeth, serrations, mouse teeth, be free of teeth (i.e., smooth), or acombination thereof. The tip region may be fully and/or partiallyinsulated. Preferably, the tip region includes insulation on thenon-contact portions of the working arms so that electrosurgical energyis not transferred through incidental contact. The tip region mayinclude or may be an active portion (e.g., an electrode), an inactiveportion (e.g., an insulated portion), or a combination of both.

The electrode may function to provide a therapy signal (e.g., current,voltage, power, electricity, or a combination thereof) to a location ofinterest. The electrode may be electrically conductive so that theinstrument is an electrosurgical device. The electrode may transmit atherapy signal between the working arms, from a working arm to theblade, from a working arm to the blade electrode, from one or bothworking arms to a ground pad, from a blade to a ground pad, or acombination thereof. The electrode may both provide power and a contactsurface for gripping and holding an item of interest. The electrode maybe connected to an electrical path that provides a therapy signal fromthe body, a generator, or both to a location of interest.

The electrical path may function to provide a therapy signal to afeature or location of interest. The electrical path may extend alongone or more of the working arms. The electrical path may be one or morestructures that when connected together provide a path for power to flowthrough the instrument. The electrical path may extend along a blade.The electrical path may be engageable and disengageable. The electricalpath may extend from a handle, gripping portion, body, or a combinationthereof to the working arms (e.g., first working arm, second workingarm, or both), and/or the blade (which may include a blade electrode).

The blade may function to mechanically cut, electrically cut,electrically coagulate, apply a therapy current, or a combinationthereof. The blade may be any device that may be used to apply monopolarpower during a procedure, that may be longitudinally movable,rotationally movable, extendable, retractable, or a combination thereof.The blade may be movable along or relative to a handle, a body, agripping portion, or a combination thereof. The blade may be connectedto and extend from a handle, a body, a gripping portion or a combinationthereof. The blade may be static. Preferably, in one embodiment theblade may be static and the working arms moved relative to the blade sothat when the working arms are moved the blade is exposed. Morepreferably, the blade is a movable. The blade may have one or morepositions. The blade may have a plurality of positions. The blade mayhave a first position (e.g., retracted), a second position (flush), anda third position (e.g., extended). The first position may be where theblade is located relative to the working arms so that the working armsare past the blade (e.g., the blade is retracted so that the workingarms extend past the blade or the working arms are extended so that theworking arms extend past the blade). The first position may be where theblade is electrically disconnected, electrically shorted relative toanother handpiece component, electrically insulated so that power cannotpass from the blade, or a combination thereof. The second position maybe where a distal end of the blade is flush with the distal end of thefirst working arm, the second working arm, or both. The third positionmay be where the blade is located relative to the working arms so thatthe blade is extended beyond the working arms (e.g, the blade isextended so that the working arms are located proximate to the user orthe working arms are retracted so that the blade is beyond the workingarms). The second position and/or third position may be where the bladeis electrically connected, supplies a therapy current, is electricallycontinuous, or a combination thereof. The blade may be a separate piecethat when activated may be used to supply monopolar power. The blade maybe formed by connecting the two working arms together and supplyingpower through only one working arm. The blade may be used forelectrically cutting, mechanically cutting, or both. The blade may be adiscrete third working arm that may extend from one of the working arms,between the working arms, or both. Preferably, the blade extends fromthe body. The electrosurgical device may be free of a blade. The blademay include or be a blade electrode. The blade electrode may supply atherapy current to a location of interest. The blade electrode maycontact tissue so that a therapy current is supplied from the bladeelectrode to the first working arm, second working arm, ground pad, or acombination thereof. One or more shuttles may move relative to theblade, along the blade, parallel to the blade, or a combination thereof.Preferably, the shuttle is free of movement along the blade. The blademay be connected to a shuttle that may move the blade.

The one or more shuttles may function to activate or deactivate one ormore functions of the instrument, move one or more components of theinstrument, obstruct one or more buttons of the instrument, move a biasdevice, move a deactivation feature, deactivate a deactivation feature,align a bias device and deactivation feature, align a bias device and acontact zone, or a combination thereof. The shuttles may activate ordeactivate bias of one working arm or both working arms. The shuttlesmay case engagement or disengagement of the one or more bias deviceswith the working arms, the body, a shuttle, or a combination thereof.When more than one shuttle is present each of the shuttles may beindependently movable. One or more shuttles may be located on eachworking arm, the body, or both. A plurality of shuttles may be locatedon the body, a first working arm, a second working arm, or a combinationthereof. The shuttle may be connected to or move along a body, a handle,a first working arm, a second working arm, a blade, or a combinationthereof. The one or more shuttles may move independent of the firstworking arm, the second working arm, the blade, the body, or acombination thereof. For example, if the blade is longitudinallymovable, a shuttle located on the body may move longitudinally withoutthe blade moving or vice versa. The electrosurgical device may includeone or more shuttles, two or more shuttles, three or more shuttles, fouror more shuttles, or even five or more shuttles. For example, there maybe three shuttles on the body, one that moves the blade and two thatmove along the body to activate and deactivate bias, and each workingarm may include a shuttle. Each working arm may include one or moreshuttles. The body, blade, or both may include one or more shuttles. Thebody may include two shuttles or even three shuttles. The shuttles mayfunction to carry one or more bias devices. The shuttles may function tocarry one or more deactivation features. The shuttles may only have oneor more bias devices, one or more deactivation features, one or morecontact zones, or a combination thereof on one side. For example, ashuttle may only face a first side of a body or a first working arm. Theshuttle may have two sides and each side may include one or moredeactivation features, one or more bias devices, one or more contactzones, or a combination thereof. The shuttles may include two or morebias devices, contact zone, deactivation features, or a combinationthereof on each side so that as the shuttle is longitudinally moved theamount of force created may be varied based upon the distance of theshuttle from pivot point, body, or both. The shuttle may have two ormore pieces. The shuttle may be a plurality of pieces. The shuttle mayhave a first shuttle first portion, a first shuttle second portion, athird shuttle portion, a fourth shuttle portion, or a combinationthereof. For example, two shuttle portions may be located on the bodyand the two shuttle portions may be moved as one shuttle or moved as twodiscrete shuttles. Three shuttles may be located on the body. The threeshuttles may be a first shuttle first portion and a first shuttle secondportion and a second shuttle portion. The first shuttles may controlbias and the second shuttle may control the blade position. A firstshuttle first portion may be located on a first working arm and a firstshuttle second portion may be located on a second working arm. A firstshuttle portion may be located on a first side of the body and a secondshuttle portion may be located on a second side of the body. The shuttlemay function to provide a contact zone or contact location for one ormore bias devices. The shuttle may be movable between a plurality ofpositions. The one or more shuttles may be movable between one or morepositions. Preferably, the shuttle is movable between at least aproximal position (e.g., first position) and a distal position (e.g.,second position). The shuttle may retract and extend the blade, aworking arm, or both. The shuttle may engage and disengage one or morebias devices. The shuttle may cover, expose, or both one or moredeactivation features, one or more buttons, or both. Each shuttle mayinclude two or more positions, three or more positions, four or morepositions, or even five or more positions. The shuttle may move along abody portion. The shuttle may move along one or more of the workingarms. The shuttle may extend along or around one or more sides of thebody portion. Preferably, the shuttle extends around at least one ormore sides of the body portion. The shuttle may engage the bias device.The shuttle may engage the bias device when the shuttle is in the firstposition, the second position, the third position, the fourth position,or a combination thereof. The shuttle may be free of engagement with thebias device when the shuttle is in the first position, the secondposition, the third position, the fourth position, or a combinationthereof. The shuttle may have one or more contact zones that arecontacted by the bias devices.

The one or more contact zones may function to create a contact surfacefor the bias device to contact. The one or more contact zones mayfunction to assist is biasing the working arms. The one or more contactzones may be any area of the instrument where the bias device contactsto create a bias force. The one or more contact zones may be a region ofthe shuttle, the one or more of the working arms, body, or a combinationthereof that assists in biasing the working arms. For example, the biasdevice may be connected to the working arms and may contact a contactzone of the shuttle. In another example, the bias device may beconnected to a shuttle and may contact a contact zone of the workingarms. The one or more contact zones may either engage the bias device orbe free of engagement with the bias device. The one or more contactzones may be generally planar. The one or more contact zones may haveone or more steps that extend in different planes so that contact witheach step varies the amount of force created by the bias device. Forexample, movement of a shuttle or a bias device may move from a firststep to a second step or even a third step which may increase ordecrease an amount of force created by the bias device. The one or moresteps may change the thickness of the shuttle so that compression of thebias device varies the amount of generated by the bias device. Whensteps are present the shuttle may have a position that corresponds toeach of the steps. The force may be sufficiently low so that fingerpressure may overcome the force to bias the working arms. The force maybe about 1 Kg or more, about 2 Kg or more, about 5 Kg or less, or about3 Kg or less (i.e., between about 0.5 Kg and about 2 Kg). The amount offorce may be varied by moving one or more shuttles, bias members, orboth toward a distal end, towards a proximal end, towards a pivot point,towards a cross over, a combination thereof. The shuttle may be distallyor proximally moved to vary the bias force provided to each working armdepending upon a longitudinal location of the shuttle. The bias devicemay provide a force that is close to zero but greater than a zero biasforce. The shuttle may have a distal position, a first position, asecond position, a third position, a proximal position, or a combinationthereof. The contact zones may have one or more recesses so that when aportion of a bias device (e.g., a free end or contact portion) contactsthe contact zone the bias device and shuttle form at least a temporaryconnection. The one or more recesses may substantially prevent the biasdevice from moving (e.g., sliding) along the contact zone (e.g., thebias device may move 1 mm or less relative to the contact zone). Thecontact zone may be curved, include a detent, be flat, disc shaped, or acombination thereof. The contact zone may be moved so that the biasdevice is free of contact with the shuttle and the bias device isdisabled.

The one or more bias devices may function to move one or more of theworking arms. The bias device may bias one or more of the working armsopen (i.e., away), one or more of the working arms closed (i.e.,towards), or both. The bias devices may move the ends of the workingarms towards the body, the blade or both. The bias devices may move theends of the working arms away from the body, the blade, or both. Thebias device may bias one or more of the working arms off of a body, ashuttle, a handle, an inner shell, a contact zone, or a combinationthereof. The bias device may be free of providing a bias (e.g., the biasdevice may be disabled, turned off, or both). The one or more biasdevices may be free of contact with a working arm, shuttle, body,contact zone or a combination thereof when the shuttle is in the secondposition. The bias device may longitudinally movable (e.g., along alength of the electrosurgical device), laterally movable (e.g., movewith a working arm along a plane that is at an angle relative to thelength (e.g., perpendicular)), rotationally movable (e.g., around aworking arm), or a combination thereof. The bias device may belongitudinally static. The bias device may be fixed to a working arm,body, shuttle, first shuttle portion, second shuttle portion, thirdshuttle portion, handle, gripping portion, or a combination thereof. Thebias device may be made of plastic, metal, rubber, or a combinationthereof. The bias device may extend between a first working arm and thebody, a second working arm and the body, or both. Depending on theposition of the shuttle the bias device may be opposing a working arm ora body. The bias device may be made of an elastic material. The biasdevice may include elastomeric characteristics. The bias device may be aspring. The bias device may be a leaf spring, a cantilever spring, ahelical spring, compression spring, a coil, a helical extension, or acombination thereof. The bias device may include one or more constrainedends, one or more free ends, one or more contact portions, or acombination thereof.

The one or more constrained ends may function to connect the bias deviceto a part of an instrument. The one or more constrained ends maypermanently connect the bias device to a part of an instrument. The oneor more constrained ends may removably connect the bias device to a partof an instrument. The one or more constrained ends may be a singleconstrained end. The one or more constrained ends may be located onopposing ends of the bias device. For example, two opposing ends of thebias device may be constrained and a middle section may extend outwardto provide the bias. The one or more constrained ends may not be an endbut may constrain the bias device between to a part of the instrument ata location between the ends. For example, a central section may beconstrained and two portions may extend outward from the constrainedcentral section. The one or more constrained ends preferably are locatedat an end that is towards the distal end of the device. For example, thebias device may include a distal end and a proximal end and theconstrained end may be the distal end of the bias device. Theconstrained end may be connected to a working arm, the shuttle, a body,handle, gripping portion, or a combination thereof. The first workingarm and the second working arm may each be connected to a constrainedend of a bias device. The bias device may extend outward from theconstrained end. For example, the bias device may extend from aconstrained end on a first working arm towards a second working arm. Theconstrained end may form a cantilever connection. The bias device mayonly be connected at the constrained end and may include a free end thatis not constrained to any part of the instrument (i.e., the working armsor the shuttle).

The free end may function to contact one or more parts of the instrumentto create a bias force. The free end may extend away from theconstrained end but may be free of contact with another part of theinstrument to create the bias force. For example, the free end mayextend outward and contact the same part as the constrained end (e.g.,an arm, shuttle, body) and a contact surface between the free end andthe constrained end may create the bias force. The free end may extendtowards the same part of the instrument as the bias device (e.g., theshuttle, a working arm, body). Preferably, the free end contacts acontact zone and assists in creating the bias force. The free end maymove along a portion of the instrument as the contact portion is biased.The free end may be in contact with a part of the instrument and move asthe working arms are moved towards each other. The free end may besubstantially static during movement of the working arms towards eachother so that energy is stored within the bias device. The free end maybe opposite a constrained end (e.g., cantilever connection). The freeend may be in the same plane as the constrained end. The free end may bein a different plane than the constrained end. The bias device mayinclude more than one free end. For example, the bias device may include2, 3, 4, 5, or more free ends. Preferably, the bias device includes asingle free end. The free end may be flat. The free end may include acovering or another material. The free end may include an insulator, anelastomeric material, or both. The free end may be free of any othermaterials. The free end and the constrained end may be separated by oneor more breaks.

The one or more breaks may function to store energy. The one or morebreaks may function to move the bias device from a first plane to asecond plane. The one or more breaks may be one or more arcuate portionsof the bias device. The one or more breaks may be one or more bends inthe bias device. The one or more breaks may allow the bias device tofollow the contour of the working arms, the shuttle, a portion of theinstrument, or a combination thereof. The one or more breaks may be ashaped portion of the bias device. The one or more breaks may move whenthe working arms move towards each other and store energy and when apressure is released the working arms may release the stored energy andbias the working arms apart. The one or more breaks extend the biasdevice from a constrained end towards a contact portion. The one or morebreaks may strengthen a portion of the bias device. The one or morebreaks may prevent one or more portions of the bias device from moving.The one or more breaks, bias device, or both may include the contactportion.

The one or more contact portions may function to contact another portionof the instrument to bias one or more of the working arms apart or biasone or more of the working arms together. Preferably, the contactportions of the bias device contact a contact zone on a working arm, theshuttle, a body, or a combination thereof. The one or more contactportions may contact a first working arm, a second working arm, ashuttle, a body, or a combination thereof. The one or more contactportions may contact a piece adjacent to a working arm. The one or morecontact portions may contact a working arm. For example, the bias devicemay be connected to a first working arm and the contact portion maycontact the first working arm and a second working arm or a shuttle tocreate a bias force. The contact portion may assist in compressing abias device so that energy is stored within the bias device. The contactportion may assist in releasing energy so that the first working arm andsecond working arm are moved apart. Each bias device may have one ormore contact portions. Each bias device may include two or more contactportions. For example, each bias device may include a contact portionthat contacts a first part of the instrument (e.g., an arm) and secondpart of the instrument (e.g., another arm or a shuttle). The contactportion may be a constrained end, a free end, or both. The contactportion may contact a shuttle, a body, or both of the instrument. Thecontact portion may contact a shuttle when a shuttle is in a firstposition (or distal position) and may extend into a body, into adeactivation feature, or both and be free of contact with the contactzone when the shuttle is in a second position (or proximal position).

The body may function to serve as the primary gripping region for auser. The body may be a central body. The body may connect all of thecomponents together (e.g., the blade, working arms, shuttle, buttons,etc. . . . ). The body may be or include a handle, a gripping portion,or both. The body may house electrical components, buttons, controls, ora combination thereof. The body may receive power, therapy signals, orboth from a generator. The body may be connected to the working arms bya pivot pin, bosses, or both. The body may connect to a proximal end ofeach of the working arms. The body may extend between two or moreworking arms. The working arms may pivot about the body and the body mayremain substantially static. Each working arm may move relative to thebody individually. The body may connect both of the working armstogether so that the working arms move with each other. The body portionmay carry the shuttle. The body portion may have a track that theshuttle moves along. The body portion may include an opening thatreceives all or a portion of the blade. For example, the blade may movein and out of the body portion. The shuttle may be part of the bodyportion and the shuttle may cover a portion of an inner shell of thebody portion. The body may be covered by an inner shell.

The inner shell may extend around the body portion, a portion of the oneor more working arms, or both. The inner shell may cover one or moresurfaces, preferably two or more surfaces, and more preferably three ormore surfaces. The inner shell of the body portion may function tosupport the shuttle, the activation buttons, connect the working arms,receive all or a portion of the bias device, receive all or a portion ofthe blade, or a combination thereof. The inner shell may house all ofthe electrical elements. The inner shell may assist in activating ordeactivating one or more electrical functions of the instrument. Theinner shell may function to be a piece that a user grips. The innershell may include one or more deactivation features.

The one or more deactivation features may function to deactivate thebias device, deactivate an electrosurgical configuration, or both. Theone or more deactivation features may be a hole or recess that extendsthrough one or more walls of the inner shell, body portion, working arm,handle, gripping portion, shuttle, electrosurgical device, or acombination thereof. Preferably, the deactivation features are a recessthat create a gap so that the bias device cannot contact a part of thedevice to create a bias force. The one or more deactivation features maybe located in a first working arm, second working arm, first shuttle,second shuttle, or a combination thereof. One or more parts may includetwo or more or even a plurality of deactivation features. For example, ashuttle may include two deactivation features and two contact zones. Thedeactivation feature may be where the bias device is free of contactwith another component or a contact zone. The deactivation feature maybe where a gap is sufficiently large that the bias device is free ofcontact with a working arm, shuttle, body, contact zone, or acombination thereof. The one or more deactivation features may be one ormore recesses, one or more openings, one or more through holes, or acombination thereof. For example, the inner shell may include a recessso that when the shuttle is in a proximal position the recess is exposedand one or both of the bias devices extend into the recess and are freeof contact with the inner shell and one or both of the bias devices aredeactivated. The one or more deactivation features may be a distancebetween a contact zone and a contact portion. For example, when theshuttle is moved from a first position, where the contact zone and thecontact portion are in contact, to a second position, the contactportion may be located too far from the contact zone to create a biasforce. The one or more deactivation features may be a gap that isgreater than a distance between a bias device and a contact surface sothat the bias device cannot create a bias force. The deactivationfeatures may be a hole that the bias device extends into so that thebias device cannot bias. The one or more deactivation features may belocated on the shuttle or in the shuttle so that when the shuttle is inone position one or both of the bias devices align with the deactivationfeature and are deactivated and when the shuttle is in a differentposition the bias device aligns with a contact zone and is activated.Preferably, the deactivation features are aligned with the contactportions of the bias device. More preferably, the deactivation features,activation buttons, or both are covered and uncovered by the shuttlemoving between positions.

The first activation button, second activation button, or both mayfunction to enable one or more electrical configurations of theinstrument. The first activation button, second activation button, orboth may provide a therapy current to one or both working arms, theblade, or both. The activation buttons may allow for the instrument tobe an electrosurgical device. The activation buttons may allow theinstrument to be both a mechanical gripping device and anelectrosurgical device.

The present teachings relate to an instrument that may includeelectrical elements and be an electrosurgical device. Preferably, thepresent teachings relate to an electrosurgical device and associatedcomponentry that form an electrosurgical system. The electrosurgicalsystem may be any system that includes one or more of the devices taughtherein. Preferably, the electrical surgical system includes at least anelectrosurgical device. The electrosurgical system may include one ormore handpieces (i.e., a body) as taught herein, one or more groundpads, one or more generators, one or more electrosurgical devices, oneor more adjacent handpiece components, or a combination thereof and theteachings herein of each device which are incorporated into theelectrosurgical system. The electrosurgical device may be any devicethat may be used by a surgeon to perform a surgical procedure. Theelectrosurgical device may function to be switched between two or moreconfigurations, two or more states, or both (e.g., be a combinationdevice). For example, the electrosurgical device may be switched betweena monopolar configuration, a bipolar configuration, anon-electrosurgical configuration, or a combination of the three. Theelectrosurgical device may be any device that may be switched betweentwo or more configurations with one hand so that a user may switchbetween the configurations without the need for a second hand, withoutdisrupting the procedure, or both. The electrosurgical device may be anydevice and/or configuration that may be used ambidextrously,ambidextrously switched between configurations, or both. Theelectrosurgical device may be used to cut, perform hemostasis,coagulate, desiccate, fulgurate, electrocautery, or a combinationthereof. The electrosurgical device may be any device that includesbipolar capabilities, monopolar capabilities, non-electrosurgicalcapabilities, or a combination thereof. The electrosurgical device maybe used in open surgery. In addition to its electrosurgical capabilitiesthe electrosurgical device may be used for non-electrosurgical purposes.For example, the electrosurgical device may be used as forceps,tweezers, or both that may be used to grip an object, an organ, a vein,skin, tissue, the like, or a combination thereof. In another example,one or more parts of the device may include a sharp edge and may be usedto cut, similar to that of a scalpel. The electrosurgical deviceincludes a proximal end (e.g., an end proximate to a user) and a distalend (e.g., an end furthest from a user). The electrosurgical device mayinclude a handpiece and a generator. The electrosurgical device may haveone or more therapy signals that extend between the handpiece and thegenerator.

The one or more therapy signals may be a signal, power, continuity, or acombination thereof. The one or more therapy signals may extend fromand/or to the handpiece (e.g., blade, working arms, or both). The one ormore therapy signals may be formed by the handpiece, formed by thegenerator, or both. The electrosurgical therapy signals may be a therapycurrent. Preferably, the electrosurgical therapy signals indicate that auser has performed a step and a signal is being transmitted so thattherapy current, energy, or both is generated. The electrosurgicaltherapy signals may provide a signal so that one or more therapycurrents are produced and the therapy currents may be used forelectrosurgery. The electrosurgical therapy signal may be a monopolartherapy signal, a bipolar therapy signal, or both. The electrosurgicaltherapy signal may be a monopolar therapy signal, a bipolar therapysignal, or both. The monopolar therapy signal may be any signal that hasa voltage differential between a return port and an active port in thegenerator. The monopolar therapy signal may be any signal that whenapplied by the electrosurgical device extends from one pole of anelectrosurgical device to another pole located at a remote location, offof the electrosurgical device, off the handpiece, or a combinationthereof. The bipolar therapy signal may be any signal that has a voltagedifferential between two leads that are connected to the electrosurgicaldevice, that are located in the generator, or both. The bipolar therapysignal may be any signal that when applied by the electrosurgical deviceextends from one component of a handpiece to another component of thehandpiece (e.g., between two working arms, from a blade to one or bothworking arms, or both). An electrosurgical therapy signal, when theactivation circuit is in the second state, may exit the handpiece sothat a therapy current extends from a blade, between the first workingarm and the second working arm, between the blade and one or both of theworking arms, or a combination thereof. The therapy signal may begenerated and conducted from the handpiece to the generator.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of and electrosurgical device 100configured as forceps 2 with a blade 90. The blade 90 is retractedbetween the first working arm 30 and the second working arm 32 so thatthe working arms 30 and 32 are movable. The blade 90 is connected to abody 10 that carries a shuttle 60 and a first activation button 16,second activation button 18, and third activation button 22. A biasdevice (not shown) is located on each of the first working arm 30 andthe second working arm 32 that selectively bias the first working arm 30and second working arm 32 respectively against the shuttle 60 on thebody 10.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of the forceps 2. The forceps 2 asshown are also an electrosurgical device 100. The forceps 2 include abody 10 with a blade 90 extending therefrom. The body 10 is partiallycovered by a movable shuttle 60, which moves between a first position(not shown) and a second position (not shown) to selectively cover anduncover a first activation button 16, a second activation button 18, anda third activation button 22. The first working arm 30 and the secondworking arm 32 are substantially a mirror image of each other. Both thefirst working arm 30 and the second working arm 32 include a pivot 37with a pivot point 36, which as shown is a pin, that the working armsmove about to create a gripping force. The pivot point 36 extendsthrough a pair of opposing bosses 34 on each of the working arms. Eachof the working arms includes a bias device 80 that assists in openingthe working arms 30, 32. The bias devices 80 include a free end 82 and aconstrained end 84. The free end 82 contacts a contact zone 66 of theshuttle 60 when the shuttle 60 is in a first position. The bias devices80 include breaks 88 that assist in resiliently biasing the working arms30, 32. Each of the working arms 30, 32 include an electrical path 38 sothat power travels to electrodes 33 at ends of each respective workingarm 30, 32. The body 10 includes a first activation button 16, a secondactivation button 18, and a third activation button 22. The body 10 hasa deactivation feature 14, which as shown is a through hole, in theinner shell 12 of the body 10.

FIG. 3 illustrates a plan view of the first working arm 30. The biasdevice 80 extends along the working arm towards the bosses 34 where thebias device 80 has a free end 82. The first working arm 30 has a pair ofbosses 34 and each boss 34 includes a pivot point 36 that receives apivot pin (not shown) so that the working arm is rotatable about anaxis. The first working arm 30 moves when the contact portion 86 of thebias device 80 contacts the shuttle (not shown) to bias the firstworking arm 30. The bias device 80 includes a break 88 that curves thebias device 80 away from the working arm 30 and forms the contactportion 86. The working arm 30 has an electrical path 38 that is formedfrom the free end 82 of the bias device 80 to an electrode 33 at thedistal end of the first working arm 30.

FIG. 4 illustrates a plan view of the second working arm 32. The biasdevice 80 extends outward from the second working arm 32 and a gap islocated between the bias device 80 and the pivot 36 of the secondworking arm 32. The contact portion 86 is shown extending from thesecond working arm 32 outward by the break 88 curving away from thesecond working arm 32.

FIG. 5 illustrates forceps 2 where the first working arm 30 and thesecond working are 32 are biased closed. The forceps 2 include a body 10having handle 20 connected to a gripping portion 44 with a distal end 40extending beyond the gripping portion 44. When a force is applied to thegripping portion 44 of the first working arm 30 and the second workingarm 32, the first working arm 30 and the second working arm 32 arebiased towards the body 10 and ends of the first working arm 30 and thesecond working arm 32 open. Once the force is released, the bias devices80 contact the shuttle 60 and bias the working arms 30, 32 closed. Ablade 90 is connected to the shuttle 60 so that movement of the shuttlemoves the blade 90 between the first working arm 30 and the secondworking arm 32 towards and away from the distal end (i.e. the tip) 40.As shown, the blade 90 is extending beyond the first working arm 30 andthe second working arm 32.

FIG. 6 illustrates the forceps 2 of FIG. 5 with the body removed. Withthe body removed, the first working arm 30, the second working arm 32,the bias device 80, and the blade 90 are fully visible. Ends of thefirst working arm 30 and the second working arm 32 are connectedtogether to assist in creating a bias force. An electrode 33 is locatedat ends of the first working arm 30 and the second working arm 32 sothat bipolar energy can be supplied between the first working arm 30 andthe second working arm 32. An electrode 33 is located on the blade 90 sothat monopolar energy can be supplied through the blade 90.

FIG. 7 illustrates the forceps 2 with a first working arm 30 and asecond working arm 32 with a body 10 located therebetween. A bias device80 is located on a first side of the body 10 proximate to the firstworking arm 30 and a bias device 80 is located on a second side of thebody 10 proximate to the second working arm 32. The shuttle 60 on firstworking arm 30 is located in a first position 60A (i.e., proximalposition), and the shuttle 60 on the second working arm 32 is located ina second position 60B (i.e., distal position). A shuttle 60 is locatedon the body 10 and, as shown, the shuttle 60 is in a first position 60A.The blade 90 is extended distal of the first working arm 30 and thesecond working arm 32. The shuttle 60 on the first working arm 30 fillsthe gap located between the first working arm 30 and the bias device 80so that the first working arm 30 is biased by the bias device 80contacting the shuttle 60 on the first working arm 30. A gap (G) islocated between the bias device 80 and the second working arm 32 so thatthe second working arm 32 is not biased.

FIG. 8 illustrates the forceps 2 with a first working arm 30 and asecond working arm 32 with a body 10 located therebetween. A shuttle 60is movably connected to the body 10 and is shown in the first position60A. A bias device 80 is located on a first side of the body 10proximate to the first working arm 30 and a bias device 80 is located ona second side of the body 10 proximate to the second working arm 32. Thebody 10 is in communication with a blade 90 that is extended distal ofthe first working arm 30 and the second working arm 32. A shuttle 60 islocated on the first working arm 30 in a second position 60B forming agap (G) between the first working arm 30 and the bias device 80 so thatthe first working arm 30 is not biased. A shuttle 60 is located on thesecond working arm 32 in a first position 60A so that the bias device 80on the shuttle 60 of the body 10 aligns with the shuttle 60 on thesecond working arm 32 and the bias device 80 biases the second workingarm 32.

FIG. 9A illustrates the forceps 2 with a first working arm 30 and asecond working arm 32 with a body 10 located therebetween. The body 10is in communication a blade 90 that is fully retracted allowing thefirst working arm 30 and the second working arm 32 full movement. Thefirst working arm 30 includes a shuttle 60 (e.g., a first shuttle or afirst shuttle first portion) in a first position 60A and the secondworking arm 32 includes a shuttle 60 (e.g., a second shuttle or a firstshuttle second portion) in a first position 60A. A shuttle 60 (e.g., athird shuttle) is in communication with the body 10 and the blade 90.The shuttle 60 on the body 10 includes a bias device 80 carried on afirst side proximate the first working arm 30 and on a second sideproximate the second working arm 32. As shown, the shuttle 60 in a thirdposition 60C with blade fully retracted so that a gap (G) is locatedbetween the bias devices 80 and the first working arm 30 and secondworking arm 32 respectively so that both the first working arm 30 andthe second working arm 32 are deactivated by movement of the shuttle 60on the body 10.

FIG. 9B illustrates the forceps 2 with a first working arm 30 and asecond working arm 32 with a body 10 located therebetween. The body 10is in communication with a blade 90 that has a distal end 62 that isflush with the distal ends 62 of the first working arm 30 and the secondworking arm 32. The first working arm 30 includes a shuttle 60 in afirst position 60A and the second working arm 32 includes a shuttle 60in a first position 60A. The body 10 includes a shuttle 60 carrying abias device 80 on a first side and a bias device 80 on a second side,and the shuttle 60 is located in the first position 60A so that the biasdevices 80 align with the shuttles 60 on the first working arm 30 andthe second working arm 32 to bias the first working arm 30 and thesecond working arm 32 respectively.

FIG. 9C illustrates the forceps 2 with a first working arm 30 and asecond working arm 32 with a body 10 located therebetween. The body 10is in communication a blade 90 that is fully retracted allowing thefirst working arm 30 and the second working arm 32 full movement. Thefirst working arm 30 includes a shuttle 60 in a first position 60A andthe second working arm 32 includes a shuttle 60 in a first position 60A.A shuttle 60 is in communication with the body 10 and the blade 90 andthe shuttle 60 includes bias device 80 on a first side proximate thefirst working arm 30 and on a second side proximate the second workingarm 32. As shown, the shuttle 60 on the body 10 is in a first position60A with blade fully retracted so that the bias devices 80 align withthe shuttles 60 on the first working arm 30 and the second working arm32 respectively to create a bias force.

FIG. 9D illustrates the forceps 2 with a first working arm 30 and asecond working arm 32 with a body 10 located therebetween. A firstshuttle 60 (e.g., a first shuttle first portion) is located on the firstworking arm 30 in a first position 60A. A shuttle 60 (e.g., a thirdshuttle or a second shuttle first portion) is located on a first side ofthe body 10 in a first position 60A where the bias device 80 carried onthe shuttle 60 on the body 10 is aligned with the shuttle on the firstworking arm 30 so that the bias device 80 biases the first working arm30. A shuttle 60 is located on the second working arm in a firstposition 60A. A second shuttle 60 carrying a bias device 80 is locatedon the body 10 and/or blade 90 opposite the second working arm 32 andthe second shuttle 60 (e.g., a first shuttle second portion) is in asecond position 60B so that a gap (G) is located between the bias device80 and the shuttle 60 on the second working arm 32 so that the biasdevice 80 does not bias the second working arm 32. The shuttles 60 onthe body portion 10 are individually movable so that the first workingarm 30 and the second working arm 32 can be selectively engaged anddisengaged.

FIG. 10 illustrates the forceps 2 with a first working arm 30 and asecond working arm 32 with a body 10 located therebetween. Threeshuttles 60 are located on the body 10. A shuttle 60 (e.g., firstshuttle or first shuttle first portion), with a bias device 80, islocated on the body 10 on the first working arm 30 side of the body 10,and a shuttle 60 (e.g., a second shuttle or a first shuttle secondportion) with a bias device 80 is located on the body on the secondworking arm 32 side of the body 10. Both of the shuttles 60 are locatedin a second position 60B where the bias devices 80 are aligned with adeactivation feature 14 in the first working arm 30 and the secondworking arm 32 respectively. The deactivation feature 14 prevents thebias devices 80 from biasing the working arms 30 or 32 respectively. Ablade 90 is fully extended between the first working arm 30 and thesecond working arm 32. A shuttle 60 (e.g., a third shuttle or a secondshuttle portion) is located on the body 10, in a first position 60A,that axially moves the blade 90.

FIG. 11 illustrates the forceps 2 with a first working arm 30 and asecond working arm 32 with a body 10 located therebetween. A shuttle 60with a bias device 80, is located on the body 10 on the first workingarm 30 side of the body 10. The shuttle 60 on the first working arm 30side is located in a first position 60A. A shuttle 60 with a bias device80 is located in the body on the second working arm 32 side of the body10. The shuttle 60 on the second working arm 32 side is located in asecond position 60B. The bias device 80 on the shuttle 60 proximate tothe first working arm 30 contacts the first working arm 30 so that thebias device 80 on the first working arm side biases the first workingarm 30. The bias device 80 on the shuttle 60 proximate to the secondworking arm 32 is aligned with the deactivation feature 14 in the secondworking arm 32 so that the second working arm 32 is not biased. A blade90 is fully extended between the first working arm 30 and the secondworking arm 32. A second shuttle portion 60 is located on the body 10,the second shuttle portion 60 being located in a first position 60A.

FIG. 12 illustrates the forceps 2 with a first working arm 30 and asecond working arm 32 with a body 10 located therebetween. A shuttle 60with a bias device 80, is located on the body 10 on the first workingarm 30 side of the body 10. The shuttle 60 on the first working arm sideis located in a first position 60A. A shuttle 60 with a bias device 80is located on the body 10 on the second working arm 32 side of the body10. The shuttle on the second working arm side is located in a firstposition 60A. Both the bias device 80 on the first side and the biasdevice 80 on the second side are misaligned with the deactivationfeatures 14 in the first working arm 30 and the second working arm 32 sothat the bias devices 80 bias the first working arm 30 and the secondworking arm 32 respectively. A blade 90 is retracted between the firstworking arm 30 and the second working arm 32 by the second shuttleportion 60, being moved into the second position 60B, so that ends 62 ofthe blade 60 and the working arms 30, 32 are flush.

FIG. 13 illustrates the forceps 2 with a first working arm 30 and asecond working arm 32 with a body 10 located therebetween. A shuttle 60with a bias device 80 is located on the body 10 on the first working arm30 side of the body 10. The shuttle 60 on the first working arm side islocated in a first position 60A. A shuttle 60 with a bias device 80 islocated on the body 10 on the second working arm 32 side of the body 10in a second position 60B. The bias device 80 on the shuttle 60 proximateto the second working arm 32 extends into the deactivation feature 14 sothat the second working arm 32 is not biased by the bias device 80. Thebias device 80 on the shuttle 60 proximate to the first working arm 30is misaligned with the deactivation feature 14 so that the first workingarm 30 is biased. A blade 90 is fully retracted between the firstworking arm 30 and the second working arm 32 by the second shuttleportion 60 being retracted to a third position 60C.

FIG. 14A illustrates the forceps 2 with a first working arm 30 and asecond working arm 32 with a body 10 and blade 90 located therebetween.A shuttle 60 is in communication with the body 10 and the shuttle 60 isin a first position 60A. The shuttle 60 has a bias device 80 on thefirst working arm 30 side and a bias device 80 on the second working arm32 side. The bias devices 80 contact the working arm 30, 32 respectivelyso that both working arms are biased. The bias devices 80 are misalignedwith the deactivation features 14 so that the bias devices 80 activelybias the first working arm 30 and the second working arm 32.

FIG. 14B illustrates the forceps 2 with a first working arm 30 and asecond working arm 32 with a body 10 located therebetween. A shuttle 60is in communication with the body 10 and the shuttle 60 is in a secondposition 60B. The shuttle 60 has a bias device 80 on the first workingarm 30 side and a bias device 80 on the second working arm 32 side. Thebias devices 80 align with the deactivation features 14 in the firstworking arm 30 and the second working arm 32 so that both working armsare not biased. During movement of the first working arm 30, the secondworking arm 32, or both the bias devices 80 extend into the deactivationfeatures 14 so that a bias force is not generated.

FIG. 14C illustrates the forceps 2 with a first working arm 30 and asecond working arm 32 with a body 10 located therebetween. A shuttle 60is in communication with the body 10 and the shuttle 60 is in a thirdposition 60C. The shuttle 60 has a bias device 80 on the first workingarm 30 side and a bias device 80 on the second working arm 32 side. Thebias device 80 on the first working arm 30 side is aligned with thefirst working arm 30 so that the bias device 80 biases the first workingarm 30. The bias device 80 on the second working arm 32 side is alignedwith a deactivation feature 14 that prevents the bias device 80 frombiasing the second working arm 32.

FIG. 14D illustrates the forceps 2 with a first working arm 30 and asecond working arm 32 with a body 10 located therebetween. A shuttle 60is in communication with the body 10 and the shuttle 60 is in a fourthposition 60D. The shuttle 60 has a bias device 80 on the first workingarm 30 side and a bias device 80 on the second working arm 32 side. Thebias device 80 on the first working arm 30 side is aligned with thedeactivation feature 14 in the first working arm 30 so that the biasdevice 80 is prevented from biasing the first working arm 30. The biasdevice 80 on the second working arm 32 side is aligned with the secondworking arm 32 so that the bias device 80 biases the second working arm32.

FIG. 15 illustrates a side view of the second working arm 32 or thefirst working arm 30. The working arms include a distal end 62 and aproximal end 64. As shown, there are a plurality of deactivationfeatures 14. Between the deactivation features 14 are contact zones 66where the bias members (not shown) can contact the first working arm 30or second working arm 32 to bias the working arms.

FIGS. 16A-16D illustrate the forceps 2. The forceps 2 include a body 10with a blade 90 extending therefrom. The body 10 is partially covered bya movable shuttle 60. The first working arm 30 and the second workingarm 32 are substantially a mirror images of each other. A bias device 80is located on the first working arm 30 facing the shuttle 60 and on thesecond working arm 32 facing the shuttle 60. The shuttle 60 includesfour deactivation features 14, with two deactivation features located onthe surface of the shuttle facing the first working arm 30 and twodeactivation features located on the surface of the shuttle facing thesecond working arm 32. FIG. 16A illustrates the shuttle 60 in a firstposition 60A so that the bias device 80 on the first working arm 30 andthe bias device 80 on the second working arm 32 are aligned with thesurface of the shuttle 60 to create a bias force. The bias devices 80are misaligned with the deactivation features 14.

FIG. 16B illustrates the forceps 2 with a first working arm 30 and asecond working arm 32 with a body 10 located therebetween. A shuttle 60is in communication with the body 10 and the shuttle 60 is in a secondposition 60B. In the second position 60B, the bias device 80 on thefirst working arm 30 is aligned with a deactivation feature 14 on theshuttle so that the first working arm is not biased. The bias device 80on the second working arm 32 is aligned with and in contact with thesurface of the shuttle 60 so that the second working arm is biasedagainst the shuttle.

FIG. 16C illustrates the forceps 2 with a first working arm 30 and asecond working arm 32 with a body 10 located therebetween. A shuttle 60is in communication with the body 10 and the shuttle 60 is in a thirdposition 60C. In the third position 60C, the bias device 80 on thesecond working arm 32 is aligned with a deactivation feature 14 on theshuttle so the second working arm 32 is not biased. The bias device 80on the first working arm 30 is aligned and in contact with the surfaceof the shuttle 60 so that the first working arm 30 is biased against theshuttle.

FIG. 16D illustrates the forceps 2 with a first working arm 30 and asecond working arm 32 with a body 10 located there between. A shuttle 60is in communication with the body 10 and the shuttle 60 is in a fourthposition 60D. In the fourth position 60D, the bias device 80 located onthe first working arm 30 is aligned with a deactivation feature 14 onthe shuttle. The bias device 80 located on the second working arm 32 isalso aligned with a deactivation feature 14 on the shuttle. Since bothbias devices 80 on both working arms 30, 32 are aligned withdeactivation features 14 the working arms 30, 32 are not biased.

FIG. 16E illustrates the forceps 2 with a first working arm 30 and asecond working arm 32 and a body 10 located therebetween. The firstworking arm 30 and the second working arm 32 each include a bias device80. The first working arm 30 and the second working arm 32 are bothretracted beyond the shuttle 60 so that both the first working arm 30and the second working arm 32 are deactivated without extending into thedeactivation features 14.

FIG. 17 illustrates the forceps 2 with a first working arm 30 and asecond working arm 32 with a body 10 located therebetween. A shuttle 60with a bias device 80, is located on the body 10 proximate to the firstworking arm 30 in a first position 60A. A shuttle 60 with a bias device80 is located on the body 10 proximate to the second working arm 32 afirst position 60A. Both the bias device 80 on the first side and thebias device 80 on the second side are misaligned with the deactivationfeatures 14 in the first working arm 30 and the second working arm 32 sothat the bias devices 80 bias the first working arm 30 and the secondworking arm 32 respectively. When the shuttle facing the first workingarm 30 and the shuttle facing the second working arm 32 are moved intothe second position 60B, the bias device 80 on the shuttle 60 proximateto the first working arm 30 extends into the deactivation feature 14 sothat the first working arm 30 is not biased by the bias device 80 andthe bias device 80 on the shuttle 60 proximate to the second working arm32 extends into the deactivation feature 14 so that the second workingarm 30 is not biased by the bias device 80. The shuttle 60 proximate tothe first working arm 30 may be moved between the first position 60A andthe second position 60B independently of the shuttle 60 proximate to thesecond working arm 32 and vice versa.

FIG. 18 illustrates the forceps 2 with a first working arm 30 and asecond working arm 32 with a body 10 located therebetween. A shuttle 60is movably connected to the body 10, and the shuttle 60 includes with abias device 80 on the side of the body proximate the first working arm30. The shuttle 60 is movable between a first position 60A and a secondposition 60B. When the shuttle is in the first position 60A, the biasdevice 80 is in contact with the first working arm 30. When the shuttle60 is moved from the first position 60A to the second position 60B, thebias device 80 moves into the deactivation device 14 in the firstworking arm 30, which prevents the biasing device 80 from biasing thefirst working arm 30.

FIG. 19 illustrates the forceps 2 with a first working arm 30 and asecond working arm 32 with a body 10 located therebetween. The firstworking arm 30 includes a bias device 80. A shuttle 60 is located on thebody 10 and moves between the first position 60A and the second position60B. In the first position 60A the shuttle 60 covers a deactivationfeature 14 and so that the bias device 80 on the first working arm 30contacts the shuttle 60. When the shuttle 60 is moved into the secondposition 60B, the shuttle 60 uncovers the deactivation feature 14 sothat the bias device 80 extends into the deactivation feature 14 and nolonger biases the first working arm 30.

FIG. 20 illustrates the forceps 2 with a first working arm 30 and asecond working arm 32 with a body 10 located therebetween. The body 10includes a blade 90 extending therefrom. The body 10 further includes ashuttle 60 on a first side that is proximate to the first working arm 30and a shuttle 60 on a second side that is proximate to the secondworking arm 32. Both the shuttle 60 on the first side and the shuttle 60on the second side are in the first position 60A. The shuttle 60proximate to the first working arm 30 includes a bias device 80. Thefirst working arm 30 includes two deactivation features 14. The shuttle60 proximate to the second working arm 32 includes two deactivationfeatures 14. The second working arm 32 includes a bias device 80. In thefirst position 60A, the shuttle 60 proximate to the first working arm 30aligns the bias device 80 with the inner surface of the first workingarm 30 such that the first working arm 30 is biased against the biasdevice 80. The shuttle 60 proximate to the second working arm 32 alignswith the bias device 80 located on the second working arm 32 so that thebias device 80 the second working arm 32 is biased against the shuttle60.

FIG. 21 illustrates the forceps 2 with a first working arm 30 and asecond working arm 32 with a body 10 located therebetween. The body 10includes a blade 90 extending therefrom. The body 10 further includes ashuttle 60 on a first side that is proximate to the first working arm 30and a shuttle 60 on a second side that is proximate to the secondworking arm 32. Both the shuttle on the first side and the shuttle onthe second side are in the second position 60B. In the second position60B, the shuttle 60 proximate to the first working arm 30 is moved sothat the bias device 80 is aligned with a deactivation feature 14 on thefirst working arm 30 so that the first working arm 30 is not biased. Inthe second position 60B, the shuttle 60 proximate to the second workingarm 32 is moved so that a deactivation feature 14 is aligned with thebias device 80 located on the second working arm 32, preventing thesecond working arm 32 from biasing against the shuttle 60.

FIG. 22 illustrates the forceps 2 with a first working arm 30 and asecond working arm 32 with a body 10 and blade 90 located therebetween.The first working arm 30 and the second working arm 32 each include abias device 80. The body 10 includes a shuttle 60 on a first side thatis proximate to the first working arm 30 and a shuttle 60 on a secondside that is proximate to the second working arm 32. Both the shuttle 60proximate to the first working arm 30 and the shuttle 60 proximate tothe second working arm 32 move between a first position 60A and a secondposition 60B. The shuttle proximate to the first working arm 30 is shownin the first position 60A, covering a deactivation feature 14, providinga surface for the bias device 80 to contact. The shuttle 60 proximate tothe second working arm 32 is show in the second position 60B, whichuncovers the deactivation feature 14. The bias device 80 is aligned withand extends into the deactivation feature 14 preventing the bias device80 on the second working arm 32 from biasing.

FIG. 23 illustrates the forceps 2 with a first working arm 30 and asecond working arm 32 with a body 10 and blade 90 located therebetween.A shuttle 60 with a deactivation feature 14 is located on the body 10 onthe first working arm 30 side of the body 10. The shuttle 60 on thefirst working arm side is located in a second position 60B so that thebias device 80 on the first working arm 30 aligns with the deactivationfeature 14 to prevent a bias force. A shuttle 60 with a deactivationfeature 14 is located on the body 10 on the second working arm 32 sideof the body 10 in a first position 60A where the bias device 80 on thesecond working arm 32 aligns with the shuttle 60 to create a bias force.

FIG. 24 illustrates the forceps 2 with a first working arm 30 and asecond working arm 32 with a body 10 and blade 90 located therebetween.A shuttle 60 and bias device 80 are located on a first working arm sideof the body 10 and a shuttle 60 and bias device 80 are located on asecond working arm side of the body 10. The shuttle 60 on the firstworking arm side is in the second position 60B so that the shuttle 60deactivates the bias device 80. The shuttle 60 on the second working armside is in the first position 60A so that the bias device 80 extendsfrom the body 10 into contact with the second working arm 32.

Any numerical values recited herein include all values from the lowervalue to the upper value in increments of one unit provided that thereis a separation of at least 2 units between any lower value and anyhigher value. As an example, if it is stated that the amount of acomponent or a value of a process variable such as, for example,temperature, pressure, time and the like is, for example, from 1 to 90,preferably from 20 to 80, more preferably from 30 to 70, it is intendedthat values such as 15 to 85, 22 to 68, 43 to 51, 30 to 32 etc. areexpressly enumerated in this specification. For values which are lessthan one, one unit is considered to be 0.0001, 0.001, 0.01 or 0.1 asappropriate. These are only examples of what is specifically intendedand all possible combinations of numerical values between the lowestvalue and the highest value enumerated are to be considered to beexpressly stated in this application in a similar manner.

Unless otherwise stated, all ranges include both endpoints and allnumbers between the endpoints. The use of “about” or “approximately” inconnection with a range applies to both ends of the range. Thus, “about20 to 30” is intended to cover “about 20 to about 30”, inclusive of atleast the specified endpoints.

The disclosures of all articles and references, including patentapplications and publications, are incorporated by reference for allpurposes. The term “consisting essentially of” to describe a combinationshall include the elements, ingredients, components or steps identified,and such other elements ingredients, components or steps that do notmaterially affect the basic and novel characteristics of thecombination. The use of the terms “comprising” or “including” todescribe combinations of elements, ingredients, components or stepsherein also contemplates embodiments that consist essentially of theelements, ingredients, components or steps. By use of the term “may”herein, it is intended that any described attributes that “may” beincluded are optional.

Plural elements, ingredients, components or steps can be provided by asingle integrated element, ingredient, component or step. Alternatively,a single integrated element, ingredient, component or step might bedivided into separate plural elements, ingredients, components or steps.The disclosure of “a” or “one” to describe an element, ingredient,component or step is not intended to foreclose additional elements,ingredients, components or steps.

It is understood that the above description is intended to beillustrative and not restrictive. Many embodiments as well as manyapplications besides the examples provided will be apparent to those ofskill in the art upon reading the above description. The scope of theteachings should, therefore, be determined not with reference to theabove description, but should instead be determined with reference tothe appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to whichsuch claims are entitled. The disclosures of all articles andreferences, including patent applications and publications, areincorporated by reference for all purposes. The omission in thefollowing claims of any aspect of subject matter that is disclosedherein is not a disclaimer of such subject matter, nor should it beregarded that the inventors did not consider such subject matter to bepart of the disclosed inventive subject matter.

-   -   2 Forceps    -   10 Body    -   12 Inner shell    -   14 Deactivation feature    -   16 First activation button    -   18 Second activation button    -   20 Handle    -   30 First working arm    -   32 Second working arm    -   33 Electrode    -   34 Boss    -   36 Pivot pin    -   37 Pivot    -   38 Electrical path    -   40 Distal end    -   42 Cross over    -   44 Gripping portion    -   60 Shuttle    -   60A First position    -   60B Second position    -   60C Third position    -   60D Fourth position    -   60E Fifth position    -   62 Distal end    -   64 Proximal end    -   66 Contact Zone    -   80 Bias device    -   82 Free end    -   84 Constrained end    -   86 Contact portion of spring    -   88 Breaks    -   90 Blade    -   100 Electrosurgical Device

We claim:
 1. A device comprising: a first working arm; a second workingarm; a body; one or more activation buttons operable to enable one ormore electrical configurations of the device; a shuttle located on thebody; and a bias device; wherein the bias device biases the firstworking arm relative to the body when the shuttle is in a firstposition; wherein the bias device is free of biasing the first workingarm relative to the body when the shuttle is in a second position; andwherein the first working arm, the second working arm, the body, theshuttle, or a combination thereof include one or more deactivationfeatures.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the bias device biases thefirst working arm towards the body when the shuttle is in the firstposition.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the bias device biases thefirst working arm away from the body when the shuttle is in the firstposition.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the bias device is locatedon the shuttle.
 5. The bias device of claim 1, wherein the bias deviceis located on the first working arm.
 6. The device of claim 1, whereinthe first working arm includes the one or more deactivation features. 7.The device of claim 6, wherein the shuttle covers at least one of theone or more deactivation features when the shuttle is in the firstposition.
 8. The device of claim 6, wherein at least one of the one ormore deactivation features are exposed when the shuttle is in the secondposition.
 9. The device of claim 6, wherein at least a portion of thebias device extends into the at least one of the one or moredeactivation features that are exposed so that the first working arm isfree of biasing when the shuttle is in the second position.
 10. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the bias device contacts the shuttle when theshuttle is in the first position.
 11. The device of claim 1, wherein thebias device is free of contact with the shuttle or the first working armwhen the shuttle is in the second position.
 12. The device of claim 1,wherein a gap is located between the bias device and the shuttle or thebias device and the first working arm when the shuttle is in the secondposition so that the bias device is prevented from biasing the firstworking arm.
 13. The device of claim 1, wherein the shuttle covers atleast one of the one or more deactivation features when the shuttle isin the first position, and at least one of the one or more deactivationfeatures are exposed by the shuttle when the shuttle is in the secondposition.
 14. The device of claim 1, wherein the shuttle is a firstshuttle portion that is located on a first working arm side of the body,and a second shuttle portion that is located on a second working armside of the body.
 15. The device of claim 14, wherein the bias device islocated on the first shuttle portion, the second shuttle portion, thebody, the first working arm, the second working arm, or a combinationthereof.
 16. The device of claim 14, wherein the first shuttle portioncovers the one or more deactivation features in the body, misaligns theone or more deactivation features in the first shuttle portion with thebias device, or misaligns the one or more deactivation features in thefirst working arm with the bias device when the first shuttle portion isin the first position; the second shuttle portion covers the one or moredeactivation features in the body, misaligns the one or moredeactivation features in the second shuttle portion with the biasdevice, or misaligns the one or more deactivation features in the secondworking arm with the bias device when the second shuttle portion is inthe first position; or both.
 17. The device of claim 16, wherein thebias device extends into the one or more deactivation features when thefirst shuttle portion, the second shuttle portion, or both are locatedin the second position.
 18. The device of claim 14, wherein the biasdevice is free of extension between the first working arm and the body,free of extension between the second working arm and the body, or bothby a gap being created by the first shuttle portion, the second shuttleportion, or both being moved into the second position.
 19. The device ofclaim 14, wherein the body includes a third shuttle portion and thethird shuttle portion extends a blade.
 20. A device comprising: a firstworking arm; a second working arm; a body; a shuttle located on thebody, the shuttle including a first shuttle portion that is located on afirst working arm side of the body and a second shuttle portion that islocated on a second working arm side of the body; and a bias device;wherein the bias device biases the first working arm relative to thebody when the shuttle is in a first position; wherein the bias device isfree of biasing the first working arm relative to the body when theshuttle is in a second position; wherein the first working arm, thesecond working arm, the body, the first shuttle portion, the secondshuttle portion, or a combination thereof include one or moredeactivation features; and wherein: the first shuttle portion covers theone or more deactivation features in the body, misaligns the one or moredeactivation features in the first shuttle portion with the bias device,or misaligns the one or more deactivation features in the first workingarm with the bias device when the first shuttle portion is in the firstposition; the second shuttle portion covers the one or more deactivationfeatures in the body, misaligns the one or more deactivation features inthe second shuttle portion with the bias device, or misaligns the one ormore deactivation features in the second working arm with the biasdevice when the second shuttle portion is in the first position; orboth.
 21. The device of claim 20, wherein the bias device extends intothe one or more deactivation features when the first shuttle portion,the second shuttle portion, or both are located in the second position.